To avoid dementia, you need to read more, pray and listen to music: study

For long-term brain health, elderly people perhaps it’s worth taking a closer look at how they spend their downtime, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of South Australia assessed the 24-hour activity of nearly 400 people over 60 years of age.

When it comes to brain health, research has shown that the context or type of activity people engage in makes a difference, reports SWNS news agency.

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Some sedentary behaviors are better for cognitive function compared to others, according to findings published in The Journal of Gerontology Series A.

Mentally stimulating behaviors, such as readinglistening to music, praying, making and playing a musical instrument, and social behaviors such as talking to other people are good for memory and thinking, the study noted.

The research team cited “valuable insights” that could help reduce the incidence of cognitive impairment. More passive activities, such as playing video games or watching TV, do not provide the same benefits as reading, prayers and other activitiesthey noted.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 55 million people worldwide have dementia. Another 10 million new cases are diagnosed each year.

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Dr Maddison Mallow, a research fellow at the University of South Australia, said that not all sedentary behavior is the same when it comes to memory and cognitive health.

“In this study,” she said, “we found that the context of an activity changes how it relates to cognitive function, with different activities providing different levels of cognitive stimulation and social interaction.”

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She said scientists “already know that physical activity is a strong protective factor against the risk of dementia, and it should be prioritized if you’re trying improve your brain health“, according to SWNS.

“Even small, 5-minute exchanges can sometimes help.”

“But until now, we haven’t directly investigated whether we can benefit our brain health by replacing one sedentary activity with another.”

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She continued: “And while the ‘move more, sit less’ message certainly holds true for cardiometabolic and brain health, our study shows that a more nuanced approach is needed when it comes to the relationship between sedentary lifestyle and cognitive function.” “

It is wise to “prefer movements that are pleasurable and pleasurable heart rate up,” she also said.

And “even small, 5-minute exchanges can sometimes help.”

A recent study published by the RAND Corporation in California also identified several major factors that appear around age 60 and can lead to cognitive impairment and dementia in people. up to 80 yearsas Fox News Digital previously reported.

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The researchers evaluated 181 potential risk factors, including demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle and health, health history, psychosocial factors, and more.

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The list of predictors, according to RAND, included “never exercised” and “low participation in hobbies.”

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The results of the study showed that “maintaining good physical condition and mental health is good not only for staying fit, but also for staying sharp and delaying cognitive decline,” study co-author Peter Hudamiet, an economist at RAND in California, told Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy reported.